No. 8 Mountaineers Defeats Division III Linfield 59-55 12/9/2017 8:28:58 PM MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – The No. 8 Eastern Oregon women’s basketball team got off to an early lead at Division III Linfield, holding off the Wildcats’ comeback attempt in a 59-55 victory on Saturday night. The Mountaineers (9-2, 2-0 CCC) opened the game with a 19-9 lead in the first quarter over Linfield (3-3) at the Ted Wilson Gymansium. The Blue and Gold led by 10 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats cut the lead to as few as two points before the Mounties eventually closed it out 59-55. Junior guards Maya Ah You-Dias and Maren Herrud each led the team with 15 points. Both players shot well in the second half, with Herrud going 3-for-3 with 12 points, while Ah You-Dias had 10 points as she shot 5-for-11. Senior forward Stormee Van Belle had her third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She also went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe as free throws were important for the Mounties down the stretch. EOU hit 11-of-12 free throws in the second half including eight in the fourth quarter alone. Despite Linfield cutting the Mountaineers’ lead to just two points with 15 seconds to play, the Wildcats only led once early in the first quarter. Herrud’s two free throws with seven seconds left sealed the Mounties third-straight win. The Mountaineers return home for the first time in a month hosting Northwest Christian on Friday for the team’s Cascade Collegiate Conference home opener. Tip off from Quinn Coliseum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. For more information on Eastern Oregon women’s basketball, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com. FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu